Fourth-year student Lara El-Darazi is originally from Sudbury, Ontario, where recent research says more than 62,000 people could be without a family doctor this year. This nation-wide crisis is something she hopes to tackle after completing her kinesiology degree.
When it comes to the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s (KPE) undergraduate program, Lara loves the opportunity to learn not just through a biophysical lens, but also sociocultural and behavioural ones, as well. This holistic approach, she says, gives her and her peers well-rounded knowledge. It also mirrors how she sees herself potentially contributing to health care after graduation.
“I’m considering family medicine because I think there’s so much room for improvement with it,” she says. “I would love to see a very holistic approach where you’re going to see a family doctor, but also have the option of seeing a kinesiologist, psychologist, nutritionist or personal trainer while you’re there — because family doctors can’t be experts in everything.”
Whether it’s a family medicine or physician assistant program, it seems health care is Lara’s overall goal. With graduation looming, she’s currently working on a clinical research project with a postgraduate student in Assistant Professor Timothy Burkhart’s lab, using cadavers to create and validate an in-vitro model of chronic ACL deficiency, which currently doesn’t exist.
“I reached out to Professor Burkhart after I took his course in injury and orthopedic biomechanics,” she says. “He gave me a few project options and I told him I would be interested in cadaver work, which is new to the lab. This project will help fill a large gap in this field of research.”
“The project that Lara is working on will provide fundamental knowledge on how chronic ACL injuries present clinically, which will ultimately lead to better treatment options for this specific group of patients,” says Burkhart. “Undergraduate research opportunities are important as they help the students see the real-world application of the material that they learn in class.”
An avid athlete growing up and current cyclist, Lara was drawn to kinesiology through her love of sport and desire to learn about exercise science and injury support. KPE’s reputation was another draw, she says, and it would have been a mistake to say no. Now, she’s enroute to graduating, applying to postgraduate programs and working toward her goal of making a difference in health care.
For future Bachelor of Kinesiology (BKin) students, her advice is simple: “Keep an open mind and get as involved as possible.”
KINtroductions is an ongoing series featuring BKin students, their experience at KPE and their future aspirations.